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The following Q & A outlines SCOR's philosophy on its travel team program:
What is travel Soccer?
What commitment is involved?
How are players selected to a travel team?
How do I know if my child is ready for travel?
How are teams organized?
How is playing time for each child determined?
I'm new to Ridgefield, how do I get my child involved?
What are the Divisions?
Is there a "Play Up" Rule?
Additional Information?
What is travel Soccer?
- Competitive play representing our club.
- Organized by age group from U-11 (i.e., under 11 years old) through U-19. Ages are as of August 1st of each year.
- Teams compete in the Southwest District (greater Fairfield County) of the Connecticut Junior Soccer Association (CJSA).
- Divisions are organized separately for girls and boys.
- There are two seasons Fall which begins play in September and Spring which begins play in April.
What commitment is involved?
- Practice twice a week during the season.
- League games are usually on Sunday afternoons.
- Away games against other clubs from towns throughout Fairfield County.
- Season is generally 8-10 weeks.
- Teams usually enter tournaments which are often held on holiday weekends.
- Based on the coach's recommendation, teams may enter the Ct. Cup, a highly competitive single elimination tournament. The games are generally held on Saturday and can be anywhere in Connecticut.
SCOR hosts the annual Warm-Up Tournament over the Labor Day weekend, which is run by the U-11 parents. All parents of U-11 should be prepared to participate in the organization and running of the tournament. Every parent of players in the other age groups has a task during the tournament such as helping to run a concession stand or field marshaling.
Off-season practices are held in summer -- beginning in July, and winter -- beginning in January. These are usually one night a week and participation is not mandatory although many players choose to do so.
Being a member of a team invokes a commitment on the part of all players to regularly attend practices and games.
How are players selected to a travel team?
Tryouts are held for each age group prior to the Fall season. Fall tryouts are held in mid-June prior to school letting out. Players tryout by participating in regular practices with the team. Team selections for the Fall are expected to carry through to the Spring season with exceptions made due to registration changes or skill adjustments as determined by the team coach.
Any player who registers for the Fall travel program will be contacted by the team manager and invited to participate in one or more team practices. Tryouts will be mandatory for participation in the travel program.
Players are selected based on how your child performs a variety of skill-based drills as well as participating in small-sided scrimmages.
Players who choose to leave travel soccer for a season will forefit their spot on their team and will be able to try out again if a spot is open. Parents of new players can contact the SCOR administrator, who will provide them with the appropriate manager’s email address. Parents will contact manager to determine team’s practice schedule. Letters of acceptance or regrets will be emailed to players/parents by the VP of Travel. In addition, the coach will call the player if player does not make the team or if the player is moved from an A to a B team. Players who do not make a travel team will be offered a house team position. If they choose to accept, parents will be mailed the appropriate refund.
How do I know if my child is ready for travel?
- Does your child get a lot of enjoyment out of practicing and playing?
- Does your child possess a strong aptitude for the game? Ask your child's House/Rec coaches.
- Is your child a team player?
- Can your child handle disappointments as well as success?
- Will your child remain attentive to his or her coach and concentrate during an hour and a half practice?
If the answers to the above questions are yes, then you should consider providing the opportunity to play Travel soccer to your child.
How are teams organized?
Teams will be comprised of the most highly skilled and competitive players indicating a desire to participate in the travel program. It is in the best interest of SCOR to accommodate as many players as possible in the travel programs, giving priority to filling the most competitive teams initially and subsequent teams as registration and team formation and guidelines permit.
U 11 & above -- players will be evaluated by the team coach and the teams selected based on the evaluations presented to the Coaching Administrator. Players will be evaluated on a specific set of predetermined drills appropriate for their age group. All players, existing and new, are expected to earn their positions on the team.
How is playing time for each child determined?
At the U-11 level and beyond, the game understandably becomes more competitive. While we still stress the preceding principles, playing time will be more at the discretion of the coach and is based upon the player "earning" time through exhibiting their work ethic and skill in practice and games.
Safety
All players must wear proper equipment including soccer cleats (no football or baseball which have a toe cleat) and properly sized shin guards. No jewelry is permitted, earrings are not allowed to be taped and must be removed for practice and play. The only exceptions are medical bracelets and necklaces which are required for player safety. In these cases, the bracelet or necklace must be secured (taped) to prevent injuries.
Uniform
All participants in the Travel program will be required to purchase a uniform kit (2 game jerseys, practice jersey, shorts, 2 socks), approximately $75. The uniform is used throughout Travel and will only have to be repurchased when the player grows out of it or in the event that SCOR changes the uniform style. Uniforms are purchased exclusively at Soccer & Rugby Imports and can be ordered during “Player Pass Days”.
I’m new to Ridgefield, how do I get my child involved?
Registration for the Fall season is typically the prior May. The Fall season runs from September through November. Registration for the Spring season is in late January and the season runs from April through June. If you move to town in the off-season, please call 438-SCOR. If you would like to get your child involved in an off-season activity feel free to contact the appropriate team manager below. If you move to town during the season, contact the team manager to determine if there is an opportunity to play that season. You can always feel free to contact the program VP’s as listed in the Directory or call SCOR at 438-SCOR.
Divisions
Our Travel (Classic) Program is separated by gender and according to the age groups. If there is a large number of tryouts in a particular division, and the overall skill level warrants, it is possible that SCOR will field multiple travel teams in the same age division. A travel team normally plays approximately 50% of its games at one of Ridgefield's town fields and the other 50% away at a competing soccer club's field.
Play Up Rule
A player that has indeed proven to be a superior player physically, technically and emotionally in his or her appropriate age group should have the opportunity to develop with an older and more challenging age group. The United States Soccer Federation encourages the exceptional player to play up, and SCOR follows their recommendation because it is important not only for the development of that exceptional player but that or his or her peers. The complete SCOR "Play Up" policy is available in the Document Center.
Additional Information
Please see the SCORHandbook in the Document Center for additional details on the Travel Program.
For the safety of all players jewelry is not allowed during practice or play. Please see the SCOR No Jewelry Policy for full details.
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